Connect with Us

Crash near Port Angeles kills nurse

Four people lost their lives and nine others were injured in alcohol-related collisions throughout Washington State Patrol District 8 over the weekend.

On Sunday morning in Clallam County, troopers responded at about 8 a.m. to a two-vehicle collision on state Route 112, seven miles west of Port Angeles. According to state patrol reports, 24-year-old Amber Steim was driving her 2005 Toyota pickup westbound when she crossed over the centerline and struck an eastbound 1994 Chevy pickup driven by 44-year-old Ellen DeBondt, a registered nurse at Olympic Medical Center. DeBondt was pronounced dead at the scene. She was wearing a seatbelt. Steim was transported to Olympic Medical Center for minor injuries.

After treatment, Steim was released to troopers and was booked into the Clallam County Jail. She faces charges of vehicular homicide. A passenger in Steim’s vehicle, 27-year-old Nicole Boucher, sustained minor injuries.

We encourage an open exchange of ideas on this story's topic, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. Personal attacks, inappropriate language, and off-topic comments may be removed, and comment privileges revoked, per our Terms of Use. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.